Richard Allen leaves FA ahead of restructure

HEAD of Talent ID Richard Allen is leaving the Football Association to become Loughborough University’s first Director of Football.

Allen, who was headhunted from QPR in November 2014, has left before a significant restructure of his department by the FA. Dave Reddin, the Head of Team Strategy and Performance, wants to change the department from Talent ID to ‘Player Insights.’

This means the emphasis will change from traditional scouting to one based on video, data and analytics. The futures of all the staff within the department have been thrown up in the air.

Allen, who was Head of Academy at QPR before joining the FA, was responsible primarily for talent ID for the England Under-21s and senior team. At Loughborough, he will review the University’s football strategy, oversee the delivery of international coaching programmes and ‘lead the development of the football workforce of the future’.

He said: “I am delighted and excited to join Loughborough University and become its first ever Director of Football. To work in one of the world’s leading academic and sporting establishments is a great honour and I can’t wait to get started.”

Performance and Development Director Richard Wheater added: ”Naturally we are delighted that Richard has chosen to join us here at Loughborough University and drive forward our football programme.

“His track record speaks for itself and I have no doubt that he will deliver similar results as our new Director of Football. Attracting someone of Richard’s calibre shows how highly regarded our institution is on the sporting landscape and we believe he can take us to the next level and further enhance our sporting reputation.”

Allen will take up his post at the start of 2018. The futures of other key figures in the FA Talent ID department are also uncertain.

Steve Brown is Talent ID Manager responsible for the 18-20 age group, Daniel Dodds for the 15s to 17s and Nick Levett for the pre-international ages.